Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Legendary singer Barbra Streisand released her latest album "Partners" on September 16 through Columbia Records. The album teams Streisand with some of the biggest names in music, performing some of the most well-known melodies of the American songbook. Beginning with "It Had To Be You," Barbra Streisand duets with Michael Buble on this well-known 1920's classic as the two become very playful with each other's vocals. Guitarist/singer John Mayer seems to be in over his head trying to soften his style to match Streisand, while Babyface matches Streisand's grace during their performance of "Evergreen." Lionel Richie turns the Streisand hit "The Way We Were" into pure gold as their voices mesh perfectly. It almost matches the perfection of Lionel Richie's duet with Diana Ross on "Endless Love." This album also features Barbra Streisand's first studio duet with her son Jason Gould on "How Deep Is The Ocean" as he will definitely surprise those that are unfamiliar with his sound. The twelve song release finishes with a virtual duet between Streisand and the king, Elvis Presley. It's as if they are starring into each other's eyes, singing "Love Me Tender." The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard album chart and makes Barbra Streisand the only performer to have a #1 album in six different decades. To find out more about this release, please visit barbrastreisand.com.

Just two days after his 80th birthday, music icon Leonard Cohen released his 13th studio album through Columbia Records. The new album entitled "Popular Problems" is an instant masterpiece with thought-provoking lyrics and flowing melodies. The new nine song release begins with the pulsating rhythm of "Slow" as Cohen's raspy voice is the perfect setting for these storied words. The R&B shuffle of "Almost Like The Blues" reads like the evening news through the eyes of one of America's great troubadours. He preaches about love lost in the smoldering of "A Street" as Cohen's vocals tells a tale of revenge, while the up and down feel of "Did I Every Love You" shows the power of Cohen's backup singers as they are the stars of the song. The album finishes up bringing you to worship the gospel of Leonard Cohen in the retrospective feel of "Born In Chains" and the acoustic folk styling of "You Got Me Singing." To find out more about Leonard Cohen and his latest release "Popular Problems," please visit leonardcohen.com.